Attachment-plug fitting.



G. B THOMAS.

ATTACHMENT PLUG FTTTING.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10. 19m.

1,245,068., Patentd Oct. 30,1917.

5 vwewtoz GEORGE 7Z/0M/75. WM

GEORGE B. THOMAS, 011' BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE BRYANTELEG- TRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

ATTACHMENT-PLUG FITTING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. so, 1917.

Application filed April 10, 1916. Serial No. 90,167.

tacle with a signal device operated by theinsertion of the plug.

Referring to the. accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective of a fitting in which my invention is embodiedin one form;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of a detail;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the fitting; and t Fig. 4 is aplan with they cover plate removed.

With the increasing utilization of electricity for energizing domesticutensils of one sort or another and the consequent distribution ofelectrical implements among those unfamiliar with the dangers attendantupon their use, it becomes more and more important to surround theseutensils with every possible safeguard against accident. One of thecommonest sources of danger, for instance with electric fiat-irons orother resistance implements, is the possibility of the switch whichcontrols the heating coil being turned on by any careless or mischievousperson or child while the implement is in contact with, inflammablematerial. The safest way to i'meet this danger is to provide an alarmwhich notifies the user of the implement to break the connection. withthe line circuit at the receptacle when the use of the implement hasbeen completed.

For this purpose I have devised an attachment plug receptacle havingassociated therewith an alarm or indicator which is actuated upon theinsertion of the attachment plug and thus warns the user of the dangerwhich resides in leaving the attach ment plug inserted and thus promptsthe user to withdraw the plug and thus break 7 the line connection atthe receptacle. In the form here shown the present receptacle comprisesan insulating body 10 of duplex-gang construction. Its interiorcomprises two chambers, one to receive the attachment plug 11, and theother to receive the lamp 12. The receptacle is covered by a face plate13 having a plug-receiving aperture normally closed by the doors 14,while a bulls-eye 15 overlies the lamp 12. Within the plug-receivingchamber are the receptacle contacts in the form of studs 16 and 17respectively connected by base straps 18 to their binding screws 19 and20 which lie on v depressed ledges 21 and 22 at diagonally oppositecorners of the receptacle chamber. An insulating lining 23 overlies thestraps 18 and extends upward beyond the ledges 21 and 22 thus protectingthe interior of the receptacle against stray wire beards.

In the adjacent chamber of the receptacle are arranged the terminals 24and 25 for the lamp 12. The terminal 24 is directly connected with thebinding screw 19 by means of the strap 26 which is let into the lowerface of the base and connected at its opposite end to the strap 18 ofthe binding 'screw 19. Thelamp terminal 25 is provided with a spring bar27 lying in a channel 28 in the base and extending into the plugreceptacle chamber where it overlies and is normally spaced from acooperating spring plate 29 secured at 30 to the base strap 18 of thebinding screw 20. Under normal conditions the spring plates .27 and 29are spaced apart, as indicated in Fig. 2. Upon the insertion of theattachment plug 11, however, the entering end of the plu engages thefree end of the spring plate 2 and depresses the latter into engagementwith the cooperating spring plate 29 (Fig. 3). The lamp 12 is thusconnected in parallel with the plug circuit and remains lighted as longas the attachment plug is inserted in the receptacle, thus giving awarning indication that the plug shoul be withdrawn from the receptacleto break the line connection at this point.

The particular form of the contacts 27 and 29 will of course be changedto suit various forms of attachment plug and the arrangement of theparts may be variously modified without departing from what I claim, asmy invention.

I claim as my invention 1. An attachment plug receptacle comprising aplug-receiving chamber, an electrically operated indicator adapted to beconnected in parallel with the plug circuit connected in parallel withthe plug circuit and spaced spring contacts in one branch of theindicator circuit automatically operated upon the insertion of the plugto establish the indicator circuit.

3. An attachment plug receptacle coinprising plug receptacle contacts,an asso ciated signaling device having in one branch ofits circuit apair of normally spaced contacts and means automatically operated by theinsertion of the plug for closing said contacts to energize saidsignaling device.

4. In an attachment plug receptacle an insulating base having adjoiningchambers, plug-receiving contacts in one chamber, lamp-receivingcontacts in the other chamber, a permanent connection between one or"the lamp contacts and one of the receptacle contacts and a pair ofnormally separated superposed straps adapted to be brought into contactby the insertion of an attachment plug in the receptacle. 7

5. An attachment plug receptacle comprising wire terminals, plugreceiving contacts electrically connected thereto, associated signallamp terminals, one of said terminals losing permanently connected inthe circuit of one ct said receptacle terminals, and the other or" saidlamp terminals 7. ln an attachment plug receptacle a wire terminal straphaving an ofiset base,

a plug receptacle terminal permanently connected to said base, a springterminal electrically connected to said base, an associated lampterminal and a spring arm, extending therefrom into proximity to thereceptacle terminal and normally spaced from said spring connector, butadapted to be moved into engagement therewith by the entering end of anattachment plug when the latter is brought into engagement with thereceptacle terminal.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

snoacn n rnoiias.

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